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Endress+Hauser Canada donates $1.4 million to SAIT’s new Trades and Technology Complex

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:11:27 +0000

Endress+Hauser Canada is investing in the next generation of skilled workers by announcing a $1.4 million donation to the new SAIT Polytechnic Trades and Technology Complex in Calgary, Alberta.

The donation from Canada’s leading process measurement and automation supplier will fund the Endress+Hauser Process Lab, which will provide state-of-the-art training to students attending the prestigious SAIT’s MacPhail School of Energy.

The Endress+Hauser Process Lab is located in the Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre, which is the West Wing of the new complex. It will be outfitted with the latest flow and interface measurement technologies, in addition to guided-wave radar instruments and nuclear density profiling systems. The company will also provide guest lecturers and various training materials that explain the different measurement technologies.

“Endress+Hauser has a long history of supporting the development and training of the industrial automation workforce,” said Richard Lewandowski, President of Endress+Hauser Canada. “Because of this culture, getting involved with SAIT was natural. By providing students with the best measurement equipment and training materials, we believe that we are in turn investing in our future employees.

The labour shortage in this specialized trade coupled with the growing demand in the coming decade, make the donation and support of SAIT’s Trade and Technology Complex very timely.

“Without the support of partners like Endress+Hauser we would not be able to provide such a first-class facility to our students,” says Mary MacDonald, Dean, MacPhail School of Energy. “We continue to be committed to providing state of the art technology and a skills-oriented education. SAIT has always been known as a trailblazer in research and innovation and we feel that this new facility is very reflective of that.”

Endress+Hauser has begun installation, commissioning and start-up of all instrumentation and systems in the lab. The company expects the facility, which is over 1,800 square-feet, to be completed and operational by mid-August 2012.

www.saitpromisingfutures.ca

Harting 10G RJ45 connector assembly procedure

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:05:21 +0000

Harting has launched its RJ Industrial 10G Ethernet connector. Rated IP20 for the office IT environment, the lockable, 8-wire RJ45 requires no tools or expertise to assemble. An angled version is also available.

www.harting.ca

Modular product and concept design with PTC Creo 2.0

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:35:34 +0000

With Creo 2.0, PTC has introduced a new role-specific app supporting modular product design that extends how organizations can approach concept design, and is said to deliver significant productivity enhancements to its existing Creo apps. Raphael Nascimento, PTC product management manager, explains.

www.ptc.com

Optical Ethernet data transfer solves remote video challenge

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:11:51 +0000

The live video signal from a Pepperl+Fuchs LS680 Ethernet optical data coupler on an automated storage and retrieval system can be used to correctly position the pallet within minutes from a remote location like a control room.

www.pepperl-fuchs.us

Demonstration of SpaceClaim Engineer 2012 multi-purpose 3D CAD software

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:08:03 +0000

Demonstration of SpaceClaim Engineer 2012, a multi-purpose 3D CAD tool that performs direct modeling operations on parts and assemblies.

New capabilities in SpaceClaim 2012 include:

New SketchUp conversion detects regions where SketchUp’s approximated, facetted geometry was derived from analytic surfaces such as cylinders and cones, and automatically replaces them with precise geometry.
Multiple solid editing capabilities, such as cone manipulation, surface pivoting and distance-by-angle chamfers, extend SpaceClaim’s lead in direct modeling.
Smart tools for manufacturing, such as recognition and editing of standard holes, make SpaceClaim increasingly practical for machine shops and detailed design.
Significant performance improvements to large parts and drawings further confirms that SpaceClaim is the fastest 3D direct modeler available.
A new lightweight viewer and Microsoft extensions that allow viewing of models from compatible programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Explorer, as well as from a new standalone application.
JT with PMI export, in addition to existing capabilities, makes SpaceClaim the most comprehensive JT editor on the market today.
Detailing improvements including exploded views, aligned and unfolded sections, arc length dimensions, text fitting and alignment tools, and BOM templates let more users create detailed drawings in SpaceClaim.
A new set of 2D and 3D curve repair tools facilitate working with existing drawings and wireframe data and converting them to solid models.
Several sheet metal enhancements representing unprecedented depth, including mitered flanges, faster unfolding, weld tabs, and improved identification and interaction with sheet metal features.
Environment reflection and textures enable users to work interactively on more realistic looking models.
Usability improvements, such as improved selection rendering and reduced selection flashing, make it easier to work on large models.
Flexible configuration and IT-friendly options facilitate large rollouts to corporate, government, and educational customers.
Improved interoperability with support for KeyShot 3, Creo 1.0, SolidWorks 2012, and Inventor 2012 ensures compatibility with data from colleagues, customers and suppliers.
The improved batch file translation utility now supports all formats that SpaceClaim can read and write.
Expanded API coverage now includes access to more sheet metal parameters, drawing view renderings, and advanced mass properties.

www.spaceclaim.com

Could Canada end up being a helpless branch plant country?

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:17:43 +0000

Canada is becoming increasingly helpless in controlling its resources and industry.

And it is about time our government, business leaders, labor unions, politicians, and all Canadians woke up and started working together, otherwise we will have no control of our future or resources.

Recent closing of the London, ON, Electromotive plant by the parent company Caterpillar demonstrates how much Canada is vulnerable to the branch plant syndrome. We just witnessed the “shock and awe” of corporate greed. In their best year ever, Caterpillar made the Canadian workers an offer they could not accept.

You can almost sense the joy the bean counters felt in saving a few millions as they giggled their way to the bottom line. There are real children, workers and families that were affected by the loss of so many jobs. How much profit is enough?!

“Control your own destiny or someone else will,” said Jack Welch, the now-retired CEO of General Electric.

All Canadians watched helplessly as U.S. Steel shut down Hamilton steel operations during last slowdown while still maintaining and consolidating its U.S. operations. Adding insult to injury they defaulted on the job guarantees offered before takeover. Try doing this in China, Brazil or Germany.

Don’t blame the U.S. companies; they are doing what is good for them. No use crying in our Canadian Beer.

The shutdown of Vale mining operations by its Brazilian owners during slow down brings the harsh reality home that we are helpless when decisions are made outside of the country.

Hundred-year-old Siemens (former Westinghouse plant) moved to North Carolina. The overseas owners decided to move as they consolidated in a cheaper U.S. jurisdiction and were offered over $100 million dollars in subsidies and incentives. Canadian operation had served its purpose it was time for them to discard and move on.

I am a business owner and all for free trade that is equally fair and equitable for all. U.S. government has buy America and buy American initiatives and the steel on bridges and highway projects has to be 100% American.

Are NAFTA rules frequently circumvented? The Canadian Government postures and pretends and beats its chest at home like a gorilla but appears inept at enforcing bilateral fairness in trade. They wag their fingers at Canadians but act like wet possums on world stage.

Our labor unions are equally to blame for their share in this mess. They have failed to demonstrate genuine understanding and awareness of a changing world order. Gone are days of mutual suspicion and confrontational unionism as there are thousands all over the world waiting to gobble up our jobs.

It is time for all stakeholders in Canada, the government, labor, businesses, politicians and general public to realize no one cares for us and we have to work together to help ourselves.

There is no enemy within. The danger is from an outside, shrinking world – hungry and grateful for our jobs.

The saying by Jean Nidetch, the legendary founder of Weight Watchers, is so applicable.

"It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny.”

The time to make those choices for Canada is now before it gets too late.

Ajay Bajaj is President of Rotator Products Ltd. (www.rotatorproducts.com) and Board Member, Power Transmission Distributors Association (www.ptda.org).

WEG Automation Fault Analyzer for iPhone, Android and Blackberry

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:26:20 +0000

Pamensky, in partnership with with WEG USA, have launched the first of a series of smartphone apps.

The first app, a fault and alarm analyzer for WEG Automation products allows users to quickly get troubleshooting information without the need of a user’s guide. The initial diagnosis information is quickly accessible to them even without a wifi or cellular connection.

The “WEG Automation Error Code Analyzer” is available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphones from their respective markets.

Over the coming months WEG and V.J. Pamensky Canada Inc. will release new apps for their customers.

visit www.pamensky.com/downloads for more information.

Hannover Messe 2012: Turck displays rotational position sensors

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:25:45 +0000

At Hannover Messe 2012, Andre Brauers, Turck Industrial Automation product manager for linear position sensors, encoders and inclinometers, describes the latest in rotary position sensing technology.

www.chartwell.ca
www.turck.com

Two auto industry majors honor KUKA Systems for supplier excellence

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:50:08 +0000

KUKA Systems has received supplier excellence awards from two of the world’s best-known automakers.

General Motors named KUKA Systems as a Global Supplier of the Year for 2011. The award recognized the company’s performance conducting assembly line projects in Europe. “Given our long-standing, reliable business relationship with GM, we are extremely proud that our exceptional performance has been honored in this way,” says Frank Klingemann, CEO of Augsburg-based KUKA Systems GmbH, which is responsible for KUKA Systems’ European operations, including work performed for GM. For his part, Bob Socia, Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain for GM, says: “The supplier of the year award winners’ partnership, dedication and commitment to consistently perform above expectations played an important role in GM’s success in 2011.”

In China, the Shanghai division of Volkswagen AG awarded KUKA Systems China the silver medal in the “Commercial Excellence” category as part of its annual awards. “KUKA Systems has had a close business relationship with Shanghai Volkswagen for some years now,” says Dr. Tao Wang, CEO of KUKA Systems China. “Last year, once again, we implemented a number of interesting projects together. This award is confirmation of our successful cooperation”.

For KUKA Systems, performance awards of this kind aren’t restricted to auto industry customers. Last year it was named Tooling Supplier of the Year by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman for helping develop the Integrated Assembly Line for manufacturing center fuselages for the F-35 fighter jet.

www.kuka-systems.com

Creaform introduces C-Link for faster and easier inspection of complex parts

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:05:01 +0000

Creaform introduced the latest improvement to its inspection systems: the C-Link functionality.

Through C-Link, it is possible to network up to 4 C-Tracks and operate them simultaneously with a HandyPROBE portable CMM or a MetraSCAN 3D optical CMM scanner.

Benefits of the C-Link Functionality

- Makes the inspection process of complex setups, jigs, tooling or prototype faster and easier than ever before.

- Featuring the TRUaccuracy technology, it generates guaranteed high accuracy results, no matter the measurement environment (instability, vibrations, thermal variation, etc.) or operator skills;

- Can be used as a mobile measurement solution for complex set-ups;

- Allows the creation of fixed measurement rooms (virtual CMM with freedom of handheld probe/3D scanner);

- Can be used for large or complex objects deformation analysis when used with Creaform’s VXtrack software module.

“We were receiving repeated requests from our MetraSCAN and HandyPROBE customers towards a solution that would enable them to carry out demanding and specific applications such as deformation analysis on plane wings and presses or measure car chassis with their Creaform technology, but without having to actually move the CMM, explained Jean-François Larue, product director. The idea of the C-Link functionality was born out of a desire to actually meet this need; our R&D crew figured out a way to build upon our inspection systems’ accuracy, power and dynamic referencing capability and developed C-Link, which also improves the performance of our systems with regards to inspection and QC of large or complex parts.”